Initial concept

[Insert design images of Hiromi]

(Note: This article contains spoilers about Hiromi’s route.)

The shota, the youngster… One of the otome game tropes that I never really appreciated because of their juvenile appearance. But also because they are often either yanderes (obsessive lovers), or golden retrievers (joyful and energetic at all times) which are other tropes that I don’t like either.

Finally, it took me a long time to decide what I was going to do with this character and it was at the very end that I opted to make him harmless…

[Insert proto-Hiromi with creepy eyes]

Except in a special bad end that winks at my original idea.
But on the other hand, if you access this bad end, it’s because you were really looking for trouble!

Apart from this terrifying bad end, I put all my efforts into restoring the honor of the real Hiromi. He is not a teenager but a man who had to grow up far too fast in a hostile world. His emotional frankness is a breath of fresh air among all the suitors, he will do his best to woo Hana.

[insert sketch of Hana comparing her size to Hiromi & sketch of Hana embraced by Hiromi]

This route allows exploring Hana’s insecurities first, but also touching Kyoko in an unexpected way. Here we go up a notch in terms of drama, but it still remains fairly calm compared to other suitors for Hana’s heart.

(Man, I was 22 when I created him… *sigh*)